loughery



1.F.LOUGHERY. MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHINE.

ATTORNEYS APPUCATJN FILED MAH 13,. 192D. 1 349,895. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI l J. F. LOUGHERY.

MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATloN FILED ma. 13, 1920.

1 ,349,895 Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SIRET 2.

Femm/muws' 3-5 HG1 A 4 INVENTOR nung 7-5 rlg A w;

l@ N l AroRNfY 1. F. LOUGHERY.

MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHiNE. Awucmon mio MAR. u. 1920.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

J. F. LDUGHERY.

Mumcowa Pnmrms MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE MAR. 13, 1920 Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1. F. LOUGHEHY. MULTICLOR PRiNTING MACHINE.

APPLICATON HLED MAR. I3. HIMO.

Patented Aug. 17 1920, i SHEES--SHEU 5. Y

JOSEPH F. LOUGHERY, OF lPI-IILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUL'riooLonfrniNTiNe MACHINE..

To all whom t may .conce-m: i

Be 1t known that I, Josnrri F. Louer-inni,

'- a citizen of theUnited States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Multicolor-Frinting Machine, of which the following is a specification. r

My invention relates to theclass of printing machines or presses which employ different colors and in which a` number of impression forms orchases of types are caused continuously to pass under an impression cylinder, prior to such passagethefornis l being supplied with the different colors.

My invention further relates to printing presses of the foregoing character in which the type beds are caused to travel in a continuous path, first, under inkiiig 'rollsor kindred color-supplying devices, which supply them with inks of the desiredcoloi', and then beneath an impression cylinder.

Broadly expressed, it is the object of my inventionV to construct a machine iii which the track or pathway of the printing beds is in the form of an ellipse having two straight parallel courses, one beneath tlie inking rollers and the other beneathv the im pression cylinder,the courses being connected at their respective ends byY seinicir cular reaches;

A further object `of my inventioiiis an organization in which Va plurality of type' beds which carry'the impression jto'i'insare themselvesconnected and combined Witlianother bed which may bev termed an ,idle bed or spacci' because during its passage beneath the printing cylinder said cylinder is doing no printing but delivering la printed sheet and taking on of afresh sheet in a manner which .permits the attachment of' va front or face-up delivery.V

A. further object oi' my invention is a con# struction by which the: type beds Vcome into registry with the `printing cylinder successively and in conjunctionwith theidle bed.

A further object of my invention is so to' construct the path of travelV of the .type

beds that, in their turn around the semi-circular courses, the' construction of the operative mechanism and its location relatively to the path oftravel is such as to save space and time in the operation. n

A further object is to so proportion the Specification of Letters Patent. yPatented i Aug. 17 3 1 920 Application sied mmca13, `1920; `serial No. 365,416.

length of the straight courses of the pathway ofthe type beds, 'as to `per-init of two beds of the plurality employed occupying one of the straight courses at the same tima-#all of4 the beds, moreovenbeing so connected as to `be in conjunction throughout their travel.

A further object is a construction in which a single driving' gear imparts a continuous motion to all of the operative ele'- ments of, the entire machine.

Further objects of my invention are such special constructions of the operative ad- ]unctive parts as insure a uniform and steady operation of the printingr press as anentirety.

For the purpose. of illustrating my invention, I have showninthe accompanying drawings typical embodiments of it which are at present preferred by me since in practice they will be found to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various 'instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these iiist'rumentalities as herein shown and. de scribed.

In the drawings.

Figure l. represents a' top plan view of a' `multi-color printing press embodying my invention. t

Fig. 2 represents aside elevation of the machine illustrated in` Fig. l, viewed from the under-side of said Fig. 1. Y

',Fig. 3 represents atransverse 4section on lineB--B of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a sectional plan, the

section being taken ou line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. represents another sectional plan, the section being taken on line 5 5 of Fig, 3. 4 1

Figf represents a fragmentary bottom plan of a modified detail of the pathway of the type beds.

Fig. 7 represents a transverse sectional elevation of the modification represented in Fig. 6, the section being talren on line 7-7 of' Fig. 8.

Fig. S represents a fragmentary sectional detail of the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the section being taken on the'line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and a part of the printing cylinder being also shown.

Fig. 9 represents an enlarged plan detail of the organization of the inking rollers illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 10 represents a side elevational dctail on line lU-lO of Fig. 9.

Figs. l1, 12, land Il represent end elevational details of the cams which occasion the desired and calculated rotation of the inking rollers, in the positions in which they are respectively secured to the cani shaft to occasion the successive and alternating lift and drop of the successively disposed inking rollers.

Fig. l5 represents an end elevational detail through a set of the inliing rollers, the section being taken on the line ilol5 el Fig. 9 and the rollers being broken.

Fig. LG represents a diagrammatic detail of a set of the inlring rollers, the section being taken on the line lG-lti of Fig. l5.

Fig. 1T represents a side elevational detail ol a mutilated gear device for insuring the dwell of the inlcing rollers during the passage of the idle type bed beneath the inipression cylinder.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corrospoiuling parts.

Referring to the drawings.

l designates the lied plate of the machine which, of course, is of the desired dimensions.

Sprinfjing from the bed plate and centrally oV it are two main standards 2 and 3 which support the impression cylinder 4 by bearings 5 for the shaft (i of said cylindel'.

The standard 2 is upon one side ot the machine, the standard 3 is central, and a supplemental standard 7, also springing,r from the bed plate, is upon the side opposite to that occupied by the standard Q.

ik horizontally disposed framework conveniently composed of frame bars 8 and E), is shown as supported by being rested upon supports 10 for the bars 8, and it for the bars 9. (lt-her supports l2 carry the inner tracliways 13 upon which rest sots of carrying rolls 14., while the outer tracltways l5, supported upon the supports 11--10, carry outer sets of rolls 16.

The foregoing frame construction is simply illustrative of a convenient means for carrying roller bearings upon which all of the type beds travel along their straight courses. The opposite end sets of rolls designated 17 are located at the semi-circular ends of the courses to support the type beds as they turn from one reach to another.

In the organization illustrated, four type beds, respectively designated 18, 19, 2O and 21 carry the chases of impression forms of types which receive, respectively, four different colors, and a fifth, or idle, type bed 22 is shown as intermediate oIv the beds 18 and 21,--constitute the assemblage or plurality oi type beds which l am herein describing and, otl course, they illustrate only one oi' the many pluralities which may be used.

These tive type beds although not directly connected are yet so mounted and relatively disposed with relation lo the inlring and the printing devices as to be in essential, although not physical, end-for-end connection.

The means by which these type beds, which, as already descril'ied are mounted upon the roller-provided pathway trame work are .fonveniently operated to travel eonjunctively and in succession beneath the inliing nna'zhanisni and beneath the printing cylinder, is the following z 23 designates a driving or power shaft actuated from any source of power and conveniently mounted in bearings 24, 25' and 2li in the standards 3 and 7, and in intermediate bearings 2T and 2S, (sce Figs. l, .2 and 3), longitudinally et' the machine.

At its rear end the driving shaft is provided with a driving pinion E55) in mesh with a driven pinion 3() mounted upon a parallel countershaft 3l conveniently housed in a bearing 32 formed in the main standard 2. Upon the opposite end of the eountershattis a rack pinion 33 engaged with a rack 3l the teeth oi' which 'face upwardly, and which rack is secured to a carrying plate one of which plates is secured to and depends troni the bottom of cach type bed., and in the travel of the beds through the straight reaches of the pathway passes through lon- `.ritiidinal slots 36 and 37 respectively formed in or'between the frame bars 0-9 and 8-8.

As there is but one conntershaft and that upon the rear side of the machine, it will be obvious that the upfacing racks 34 which are carried by each of the type beds come successively into engagement with the rack pinion 33 with the result that, because of the length of said racks 34, their ends meet when the type vbeds are traveling over the straight course of the framework below the printing cylinder.

ln order to support the type beds, I find it convenient in the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 5 of the drawings, to connect each bed through its depending carrying plate 35 with the exterior face of an endless traveling band 38, see especially Fig. 5, which band itself travels over the periphery of a pair of band wheels 39 and 40 horizontally disposed upon vertical axes 4l and 42, the lower ends of which are stepped in bearings 43 and 44., see Fig. 2.

These band Wheels being idlers subserve no purpose except to secure the relative connection of every one of the type beds of the. plurality which )fusa-and the entire travel or movement of the'type beds, asalrcady explained, is due Vto the operation of themis that afforded by the sets of carrying rolls 14. 16 and 1'( already described.

.In order to assure the correct turn of each of the type beds as it enters upon the semicircular course or"`reach at the end of its travel ilromfout o'l' and into the straight reaches, l providesegmental guides and d6 horizontally disposed and suitably supported by carrying' `brackets 47k and 48 at the respective ends of tbeiv framework.'

By the Contact of the outer ends'of the straight depending carrying .plates 35--36 with the inner segmental Jfaces of these lguides il5 and l-G, the possibility of a twisting of the type beds in making their turns is avoided.

In order to cause the type beds in `their travel to operate the impression cylinder 4:,

I provide upon the sides of each type bed` an outer-rack 4:9 and an inner rack 50 the teeth olE which face upwardlyand are adapted in the travel of the beds to encounter rcspectively the driven rack pinions 5,1` and 52 on the ends of the impression cylinder 4,-, as seen in Fig. 3. Y

Obviously, as each type bed travels beneath the impression cylinder, its rackswill cause the rotation of the cylinder in the desired direction and at the desired speed.v

Inasinuch as the cylinder racks a9 which` arel uponthe outside ol the type beds are of greater length than the cylinder racks which are upon the inner side of each type bed, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and et, there will always lie-contact between the longer or outside racks 49 with the cylinder raclc pinion 5l, when the type beds to which said racks are applied to straighten out, and, therefore, as each bed in turn'travels away from beneath the impression cylinder and its outer rack 49 passes .from contact with the outer pinion 51 oi' said cylinder, the outer rai-lr lt9 ot the succeeding type bed will come into contact with said pinion and canse its coni inning rotary movement to continue the. rotation off the cylinder'.

The impression cylinder' l the rotation of which eii'ected by the operation of the type beds as above described, maybe of any usual type and in itself forms-no part of my invention. y

The cylinder is operated in connection with the usual feed table 53 and the usual delivery boardsl., and the paper feed may be of any usual character, grippingfingers' of the usual character retaining the paper stretched across the working surface' of the cylinder in the usual way.

In the operation of the machine the calculation of the gearing is such that one complete rotation of cylinder takes place in connection with the passage beneath it of each one oi the type'beds.

Theimpression'forms to be coated receive at one rotation of the proper inking rolls the desired color. Thus, the first color, which may be red, is deposited on the form carried by the type bed 18; the next color,

which may be blue, is deposited on the vform carried by the type bed 19; the next color, which may be yellow, is deposited on the form carried by the type bed 20, and the last color, which may be green, is deposited on the form carried by the type bed 21, (see 'lilach of these beds 18, 19, 20 and 21,passcs in turn beneath the impression cylinder, in turn to print the paper, and when, finally, the idler type bed 22 passes beneath said cylinder, the dwell of the inking rolls, later on explained, affords the time necessary to remove the sheet printed with the 'l'our colwith an unprinted sheet,-such time being equal to the period ot' the passageof said idler type bed beneath said cylinder.

This feature is oi importance because, as already described, it, makes possible the Vdelivery of the printed sheet and the putting in place of a sheet to ,be printed permitting of the attachment of a front or face up delivery. y

Except for its operation in conjunction with the type beds which carry the colored impression lorius` or chases and its further operation in connection With-the idle type bed,-the combined operation being new with ind-the impression cylinder in itself orins no part .of my invention and may be of anyA character and, ofcourse, of any desired dimensions. y

'ln connection with my plurality of: printing beds and anidle type bed, itis, ot course, necessary to provide a means operative in conjunction Witlrthe means for occasioning` the travelof said type beds, :Enr applying ink to the impression forms, and for applying it by inking devices supplied with inks by any preferred means common inthe art,

and in order` that each inking device may be operative in the proper succession and independently of the others'in the plurality employed, and also that all may cease their operation when the idle type bed is passing ,ors as explained andto replace such sheet beneath thel printing. cylinderhl resort `to the following mechanism which it is to be distinctly uxnlcrstood, however, is not the only one which can be employed.

At the end of the driving shaft 23 opposite to that which carries the driving pinion 2U, l mount a toothed pinion 56 in mesh with a diilri'ential gear pinion 57 which carries :i sprocket pinion 58 over which extends a sprocket chain 59 which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, passes over a series of sprocket pinions 60, 61, 62 and 63 respectively mounted on the outer ends of the shafts 64, 65, G8 and 67, (see Fig. il), of a series of inlring rollers 68, 69, and 71, which respectively receive or are fed with the desired inks, and which are ordinary steel rollers mounted in side frames 72, (see Fig. 11)) which house between them, and beneath the said inkingr rollers, type rollers, as l term them, of rnb lier or kindred material, two to cach inking roller, so as to form together with it an ink ing device.

Each of these sets of inkinp; rollers, best seen in Fig. l), but also illustrated in Fig. 1, is mounted in a quadrangular carrying frame 74 by means of suitable bearings designated as to all of them 7 llach of these bearings 75 is a vertically slotted housing, scc Fig. 15, in which the roller shaft which it carries is adapted to have vertical movement, or lift or drop, which movement is occasioned by supporting the shafts by brackets 76 of which there are two on each side of each set of inkini; rollers, as illustrated in Figs. 0 and '10, and which are also connected from o pposite sides by connecting rods 77 one to each set of rollers, and which connecting rods are respectively provided at their outer ends, in the construction shown, with what I call liftingr rods 78, 79, 80 and 81.

At their outer ends these lifting rods respertively bear upon peripheral cams 82, S8, 84 and 85, mounted upon the inner end of the shaft 6 of the impression cylinder 4, as shown in Fig. 9.

The set or mounting of the cams of this series is such as will be understood from Figs. l1` 12, 13 and lil, each of the cams as to a predetermined segment of its periphery being,r formed with a flat face which in the assemblage and timingr arrangement of the cams occupies an upper position in a horizontal plane, and upon which the lifting rod of the set of rollers which the cam under consideration operates with rests when the set is down and inlring,Ir an impression form.

In other words the positioning: is such that when. for instance, the cam 82 of Fig. 11 upon which travels the lifting rod 78 of the set of inlringir rollers typified by 68, occupies the position shown, said set of inkinf,r rollers will have been dropped at a time calculated with respect to the calculated travel of the first of the type beds for instance the bed 18, so that the impression form carried by said bed. will receive an ink, assuniedly red, supplied by said set of rollers.

W hen the cam 82 is in the position just described, the cams 83, 84 and 85 will occupy the positions illustrated respectively in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, in which position, as is obvious, each one of the sets of rollers typified by 69, 70 and 71 will be lifted and in the travel of the type beds 19, 20 and 21 and the rotary movement of the shaft 6 on the impression cylinder, will only be caused to descend by such rotary movement of said cams 83, 84 and 85 as will successively bring their respective flattened peripheries beneath the respective lifting rods with which they operate.

After all four of the sets of inlcing roll* ers in the organization illustrated have successively inked the impression plates of the successive traveling type beds,as, beginning with 18, then 19, then 20, then 21, and when all of these four type beds shall have passed beneath the impression cylinder,- there will, as already explained, then pass beneath it the idle type bed 22.

Inasmuch as during the passage of said idle brd beneath the cylinder there will be no further immediate occasion for the operation of the sets of inlring rollers to cause the inlring of the impression plate of the type bed which follows said idle bed,it is obviousthat some means must be provided for, for the time being, occasioning the cessation of the operation of the lifting and dropping ol' the succeeding set of inking rollers.

This means may be varied, but a convenient device for effecting the result will be to provide at the inner end of the shaft 6 of the impresison cylinder, a mutilated toothed wheel 86, on the inner end of the cylinder shaft 6, see Figs. 3 and 17, which is in engagement with a toothed pinion 87, mounted below it, so that during a part of the rotary movement of the mutilated toothed wheel no rotation of the toothed pinion 87 will be effected, and in consequence there will be no lifting and dropping of the sets of inlcing rollers during,r the entire period of the passage of the idle type bed beneath the printing cylinder.

teferring to the modilhfation illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, l construe-t the pathway of the type beds,-while in the form of two parallel straight courses with connecting semi-circular end turns corresponding to the pathway illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 4, and 5,-as a runway designated 88, instead of as a framework carrying trackways, band wheels and an endless band to drive all of tlie'type beds,-and provide the under surface of thc type beds with rollers 89 which tra vel in the runway, are connected with the type bcdsby being mounted on roller shafts 90 depending from said type beds and connected conveniently with each `other by clevices 91, as shown in Fig. 7.

Apart from this construction of the path-.

way, that ofthe othergelements which in their assemblage constitute my machine, is the saincas in the construction of the first live figures; and while I have designated the modified form of pathway by the nu-y multi-color printing machine which` eIn-` Vbodies, the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement ofthe irl-- vention andthe above description, and while Iihave, 1n the present instance,` shown and described a preferred embodiment; of it which will be found in practice to-give'satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the samer is susceptible of modilication in various particulars without departingr iirom `the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any ot' its advantages.

lrlaving,r thus described my invention,

what I claim as new 'and desire to secure by Letters latent, is:

l. In a multi-coloripress, the combination of a pathway embodying two straight reaches and two curved connecting end reachcs,-a plurality of traveling type beds which carry impression forms and are adapted to travel consecutively throughout the pathway-an idle type bed which carries no impression form but which is in the line between two consecutive beds which carry impression orms,-an impression cylinder,-means for inking the impression forms consecutively with the desired color,V and means for occasioning thecontinuous travel oit all of the type beds first beneath said inking means and then beneath said impression cylinder.

2. In a multi-color' press, the combination, ot a pathway embodying two straight reaches and two curved connecting end reaches,-a plurality of traveling type beds which carry impression forms and are adapted to travel consecutively throughout the pathway,-an idle type bed which carries no impression form but which is in the line between two consecutive beds which carry impression forms,an .impression cylindeig-means ior inlringthe impression forms consecutively with the desired colors,1neans for occasioning the continuous travel of all of the type beds beneath said impression cylinder,-and means JforV 3. In a multi-color press, the combination, of a pathway embodying two straight reaches and two curved connecting` ends reaches,- a pluralityv of traveling type beds which carry impressionforms and are adaptedto travel consecutively throughout the pathway,-an idle type bed which carries no impression orm'but which is in the line `between two consecutive beds whichcarr 'impression forma-an impressionfcylinc er,- operative mechanism44 carried by Iall or' the type beds for occasioning the rotation of the impression cylinder,means for inking-.the impression forms'consecutivelylwith the desired color,- operative mechanism carried bythe impression cylinder-for occasioning the desired operation of the inking means,- means for occasioning thecontinuous travel of'all of the type beds first beneath said inkinp; means and then beneath said impression cyli1ule1',-and means for halting the operation of` the inlrin'g means during the time when the idle typeV bed is passing beneath them. A

In a multi-color printing press, the combination oa plurality oi type beds disposed in ond for end succession and each provided with an impression plate or printinglorm,-.an idle type bed intermediate of two ot the foregoing type beds,-a type bed supportingr frame work embodying two par-l allel straight reaches curvedly connected at their ends, uponwhich all of the type beds travel in continuous succession,--au impression cylinder superposed'above one ot' the straight reaches4 of the, carrying frame,- means connected with and operated by the type beds for occasioning the predetermined rotary movement of the impression `cylinder,-and means super-posed above the other of thestraight reaches of the framework and operated by the Vimpression cylinder, for applying inks of different colors to a given succession ot the type beds which carry the impression plates and for omitting to apply ink to the idle type bed. I

5. In a multi-color printing press, the combination of a plurality of type beds disposed in end for end succession and each provided with an impression plate or printing orm,-an idle type bed intermediate of Atwo of the foregoing type beds,-a type bed supporting frame work embodying two parallel straight reaches curvedly connected. at their ends, upon which all of the type beds travel in continuous snccessiomwguiding devices 'or directing the course ot the travel of all of the type beds around the curved connections of the straight reaches of the supporting frame work,-an impression cylinder superposed above one of the straight reaches of the carrying fremd-means connected with and operated by the type beds for occasioning the predetermined rotary movement of the impression cylinderV-and means superposed above the other of the straight reaches of the framework and operuted by the impression cylinder for applying inks of different colors to a given succession of the type beds which carry the impression plates, and for omitting to apply ink to the idle type bed.

(i. 1n u multi-color rinting press, the combination of e pluraiity of counterpart type beds disposed in successive but independent relation and each provided with nn impression plnte or printing form,-en idle type hed intermedi-ete of two of the foregoing type beds end of counterpart form,.t supporting frame work embodying two purnllel straight track Ways curvedly connected :it their ends, on which all of the type beds travel in continuous succession,--p urelities of curl-ying rollers superposed upon the track Ways upon which the type beds trnvel,-guiding devices for directingr the course of the travel of all the type beds around the curved connections of the truck wnys,-un impression cylinder superposed above one of the straight reaches of the truck wnys,-connective mechanism carried and operated by the type beds for oecasioning the continuous rotary movement of the impression cylinder,a plurality of inking devices superposed above the other of the straight reu-ches of the track ways,-connective mechanism between the impression cylinder and the inking devices to operate said inking devices successively so as to apply inks of different colors one after another to the type beds which ca rry the impression plates, :ind

for permitting the idle type bed to pass bencnth all of inking devices without receiving ink therefrom.

7. In :L multi-color printing press, the combination of a plurality of type beds disposed in end for end. succession und euch provided with en impression plete or printing forrn,-on idle type bed intermediate of two of the foregoing type beds,-u type bed supporting frame work embodying two parelle] straight reaches eurvedly connected nt their ends, upon which all of the type beds travel in continuous sl1ccession,--:L pziir of horizontally disposed bond Wheels peripherally concentric with the curvedly connected ends of the supporting frzunc worl ,--:u1 endless bund to which all of the type beds are connected and which travels over said band Wheels,-an imln'ession cylindel.' superposed above one of the straight reaches ol the carrying fromm-means connected with :1nd operated by the type beds for occasioning the predetermined rotary moven'ient of the impression eylinder,-nnd means superposed above the other of the straight remi-hes of the framework und operated by the 'un-- pression cylinder, for applying inks of different colors to :t given succession of the type beds which curry the impression plates, und mi omittingr to apply ink to the idle type JOSEPH F. LOUGHERY.

Witnesses J. BoNsALL TAYLon, 711. DowNEY. 

